Eco-bulbs ‘a health hazard for babies and pregnant women due to mercury inside’

Energy-saving light bulbs were at the centre of a fresh health scare last night after researchers claimed they can release potentially harmful amounts of mercury if broken. Levels of toxic vapour around smashed eco-bulbs were up to 20 times higher than the safe guideline limit for an indoor area, the study said.

It added that broken bulbs posed a potential health risk to pregnant women, babies and small children.

The European Union is phasing out the traditional ‘incandescent bulbs’ used for more than 120 years and is forcing people to switch to low-energy alternatives to meet its climate change targets.

The Daily Mail reports that during the tests, the German government agency’s researchers were alarmed to discover that some bulbs had no protective cover and broke when hot.